First Place Clinch Scenario for Las Vegas The Las Vegas Aces's traditional magic number (relative to first-place Minnesota) is 3 + 41 - 1 + 1 = 44. As shown below, Las Vegas's first-place clinch number is 42. If Las Vegas wins 42 more games, their final win total will be at least 43. The table below shows the best case scenario for each of the other teams if Las Vegas wins all 42 of their remaining games. For each team, the table shows the current record (number of wins (W) and losses (L)) and the number of games that team has left to play (GL) in the regular season. Taking the schedule of games left to play into account, the 'Losses to Las Vegas' column gives the minimum number of games that each team will lose to Las Vegas if Las Vegas wins 42 more games. Assuming that each team wins all of its remaining games except for the games it loses to Las Vegas, the resulting maximum number of wins is shown in the 'Maximum W' column. Team W L GL Losses to Las Vegas Maximum W New York 2 0 42 2 - 0 = 2 42 Indiana 2 1 41 3 - 0 = 3 40 Minnesota 3 0 41 4 - 0 = 4 40 Phoenix 2 0 42 4 - 0 = 4 40 Atlanta 1 2 41 3 - 0 = 3 39 Chicago 0 2 42 3 - 0 = 3 39 Connecticut 0 2 42 3 - 0 = 3 39 Golden State 1 1 42 4 - 0 = 4 39 Seattle 1 1 42 4 - 0 = 4 39 Washington 2 1 41 4 - 0 = 4 39 Los Angeles 1 2 41 4 - 0 = 4 38 Dallas 0 3 41 4 - 0 = 4 37 The table above shows that if Las Vegas wins 42 more games (43 total), then they will finish the season in first place. To see that Las Vegas's first-place clinch number cannot be less than 42, consider the following scenario in which Las Vegas wins 41 more games (42 total) but does not finish in first place. Final standings: Team W L PCT GB New York 43 1 0.977 0.0 Las Vegas 42 2 0.955 1.0 Washington 31 13 0.705 12.0 Minnesota 30 14 0.682 13.0 Phoenix 26 18 0.591 17.0 Seattle 20 24 0.455 23.0 Indiana 19 25 0.432 24.0 Atlanta 16 28 0.364 27.0 Los Angeles 15 29 0.341 28.0 Golden State 14 30 0.318 29.0 Connecticut 13 31 0.295 30.0 Dallas 12 32 0.273 31.0 Chicago 5 39 0.114 38.0 To construct the scenario, we start with the current standings: Team W L GL PCT GB Minnesota 3 0 41 1.000 0.0 New York 2 0 42 1.000 0.5 Phoenix 2 0 42 1.000 0.5 Indiana 2 1 41 0.667 1.0 Washington 2 1 41 0.667 1.0 Golden State 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Las Vegas 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Seattle 1 1 42 0.500 1.5 Atlanta 1 2 41 0.333 2.0 Los Angeles 1 2 41 0.333 2.0 Chicago 0 2 42 0.000 2.5 Connecticut 0 2 42 0.000 2.5 Dallas 0 3 41 0.000 3.0 Next, we show how the remaining series of games in the season plays out: Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Chicago and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 4 additional games against Chicago and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Chicago 4 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Connecticut and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 1 additional games against Connecticut and loses 4. Atlanta loses the series with Connecticut 1 games to 4. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Dallas and loses 4. Atlanta loses the series with Dallas 0 games to 4. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 1 win(s) against Indiana and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 2. Atlanta loses the series with Indiana 1 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 3 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Los Angeles 3 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 3 additional games against Minnesota and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Minnesota 3 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Atlanta loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 3. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 4 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Atlanta wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Atlanta currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Atlanta wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Atlanta loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Connecticut and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Connecticut and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Connecticut 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 3 additional games against Dallas and loses 0. Chicago wins the series with Dallas 3 games to 0. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 3. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 5. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 3. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 3. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 3. Chicago loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 2 additional games against Seattle and loses 1. Chicago wins the series with Seattle 2 games to 1. Chicago currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Chicago wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. Chicago loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Dallas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 2 additional games against Dallas and loses 1. Connecticut wins the series with Dallas 2 games to 1. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 4. Connecticut loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 3 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 0. Connecticut wins the series with Los Angeles 3 games to 0. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Connecticut loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 3. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Connecticut loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Connecticut currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Connecticut wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Connecticut loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Golden State and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Golden State and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Golden State 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 4 additional games against Indiana and loses 0. Dallas wins the series with Indiana 4 games to 0. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 1 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Dallas loses the series with Los Angeles 1 games to 3. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 2 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 2. Dallas loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 3. Dallas loses the series with New York 0 games to 3. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Dallas loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 2 additional games against Seattle and loses 1. Dallas and Seattle split their series 2 games to 2. Dallas currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Dallas wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Dallas loses the series with Washington 0 games to 3. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Indiana and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Indiana and loses 3. Golden State loses the series with Indiana 0 games to 3. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 3. Golden State loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Golden State loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Golden State currently has 1 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Golden State wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Golden State loses the series with Washington 1 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Las Vegas and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Las Vegas and loses 3. Indiana loses the series with Las Vegas 0 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 4. Indiana loses the series with Los Angeles 0 games to 4. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Indiana loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 3. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Indiana loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 3 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. Indiana wins the series with Phoenix 3 games to 0. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 1 additional games against Seattle and loses 2. Indiana loses the series with Seattle 1 games to 2. Indiana currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Indiana wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 4. Indiana loses the series with Washington 0 games to 4. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Los Angeles and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 4 additional games against Los Angeles and loses 0. Las Vegas wins the series with Los Angeles 4 games to 0. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 4 additional games against Minnesota and loses 0. Las Vegas wins the series with Minnesota 4 games to 0. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 1 additional games against New York and loses 1. Las Vegas loses the series with New York 1 games to 2. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 4 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. Las Vegas wins the series with Phoenix 4 games to 0. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 4 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Las Vegas wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Las Vegas currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Las Vegas wins 4 additional games against Washington and loses 0. Las Vegas wins the series with Washington 4 games to 0. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Minnesota and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against Minnesota and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with Minnesota 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with New York 0 games to 3. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 1 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against Phoenix and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with Phoenix 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 4. Los Angeles loses the series with Seattle 0 games to 4. Los Angeles currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Los Angeles wins 1 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Los Angeles loses the series with Washington 1 games to 3. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against New York and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 0 additional games against New York and loses 4. Minnesota loses the series with New York 0 games to 4. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 4 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. Minnesota wins the series with Phoenix 4 games to 0. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 4 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. Minnesota wins the series with Seattle 4 games to 0. Minnesota currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Minnesota wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Minnesota loses the series with Washington 0 games to 3. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Phoenix and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 4 additional games against Phoenix and loses 0. New York wins the series with Phoenix 4 games to 0. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 3 additional games against Seattle and loses 0. New York wins the series with Seattle 3 games to 0. New York currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, New York wins 4 additional games against Washington and loses 0. New York wins the series with Washington 4 games to 0. Phoenix currently has 1 win(s) against Seattle and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Phoenix wins 0 additional games against Seattle and loses 3. Phoenix loses the series with Seattle 1 games to 3. Phoenix currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Phoenix wins 3 additional games against Washington and loses 0. Phoenix wins the series with Washington 3 games to 0. Seattle currently has 0 win(s) against Washington and 0 loss(es). In the scenario, Seattle wins 0 additional games against Washington and loses 3. Seattle loses the series with Washington 0 games to 3. # Las Vegas Aces's magic number # Las Vegas's magic number # Aces's magic number # WNBA Playoff Race